Name _______________________________________________ Block ____________________ Date ________________________
American Literature and Research Paper – B block
Midterm Exam Review 2014
Date of Exam:
Wednesday, Dec. 17th at 8:30 a.m.
Review Sessions available:
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Tuesday, Dec. 9th in class and at lunch (C-2)
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Thursday, Dec. 11th in class and at lunch (courtyard)
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Friday, Dec. 12th in class
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Tuesday, Dec. 16th in the library from 2:45-4:45
Types of questions you will see:
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Multiple Choice
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True or False
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Matching
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1 Essay question (prompts posted prior to exam)
Suggested Study Materials:
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American Literature Book – revisit the reading selections, the author biographies, and the unit introductions
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Notes – PowerPoint slides and personal reading notes
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Homework assignments – critical reading questions
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Unit tests – tests can be viewed in the classroom only – you may use them for studying during any of the posted review sessions;
or you may come see them during your study hall
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Important terms listed below
Works you will be tested on:
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“The Earth on Turtle’s Back” – Onondaga
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“Huswifery” – Taylor
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“When Grizzlies Walked Upright” – Modoc
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“To My Dear and Loving Husband” – Bradstreet
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“The Navajo Origin Legend” – Navajo
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The Crucible – Miller
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“The Iroquois Constitution” – Iroquois
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The Autobiography – Franklin
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“A Journey Through Texas” – Cabeza de Vaca
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Poor Richard’s Almanack – Franklin
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“A Journal of the First Voyage to America” – Columbus
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The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano –
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“The General History of Virginia” – Smith
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“Of Plymouth Plantation” – Bradford
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“The Declaration of Independence” – Jefferson
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The Narrative of the Captivity and the Restoration of Mrs.
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“The Crisis” – Paine
Mary Rowlandson – Rowlandson
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“Speech in the Virginia Convention” – Henry
“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” – Edwards
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“Letters from an American Farmer” – Crevecoeur
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Equiano
Movements and genres you should revisit (in the order we covered them):
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Early American
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Revolutionary Period Literature
o
Native American Literature
o
Public Writing
o
Explorer Narrative
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Speeches
o
Captivity Narrative
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Slave Narrative
o
Puritan Poetry
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Contemporary Drama
o
Romanticism
o
Short Story
Allegory
Terms:
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myth
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dramatic exposition
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rhetoric
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oral tradition
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theocracy
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rhetorical devices
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journal
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dramatic irony
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rhetorical questions
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narrative
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crucible
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repetition
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explorer narrative
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characterization
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restatement
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conceit
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aphorism
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parallelism
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apostrophe
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autobiography
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antithesis
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dialogue
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autodidact
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personification
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stage directions
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allusion
Essay Question (40 points)
You may use one note card, no larger than 4X6 inches, to aid in writing your essay. You must turn your note card in with your exam
(clearly labeled with your name); please staple it to the back of your essay. Your essay should consist of at least 4 healthy
paragraphs and it should be well organized. As I read your essays, I will be looking for the following:
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A nicely worded, analytical thesis statement at the end of your intro paragraph
Effective transitions between paragraphs
Numerous examples from the text that support your argument (you must include direct quotations)
Your essay must consist of more than plot summary
A conclusion that does more than merely restate the introduction
Variety in sentence structure
Very few mistakes in grammar and spelling
Absolutely no run-on or fragment sentences
Evidence of careful proofreading
Choose one of the following prompts:
1. Critics Richard Ruland and William Bradbury explain that “American literature is shaped by large questions about the nature of
American experience, the American land and landscape, American national identity, and the nature of language” (xvii). Select at
least two authors we have studied this semester and apply this quotation to their work. Through their writing, how do the authors
you have chosen comment on the American experience? How do their works demonstrate a formation of an American literary
identity? Avoid plot summary.
2. Consider the different literary periods that we have discussed so far (Early Native American, Puritan, and Revolutionary). Discuss
the progression of these periods, while also identifying the historical events and unique characteristics that are associated with
each. Additionally, include at least one example from the literature we have studied that is most representative of each period.
Remember that The Crucible does not fall neatly within any of these periods, but you may use it to help your discussion of the
puritans. Avoid plot summary.